CMSF and Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary’s (CINMS) large whale aerial survey program continues to carry out monthly surveys in the Santa Barbara Channel in 2023. Over the course of 5 aerial survey flights in 2023, 108 large whales were sighted and recorded - including over 60 humpback whales, 34 gray whales, and 1 blue whale.
The aerial survey transects were extended west by 15 miles in 2023 to match extensions made to the Santa Barbara Channel shipping lanes this year by NOAA, USCG, and the International Maritime Organization to consolidate traffic in that area and reduce the risk of ship strikes on whales in the region. CMSF and CINMS staff will continue to carry out monthly whale surveys of the shipping lanes for the remainder of 2023 to inform west coast whale conservation work.
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